Book: Authority by Jeff Vandermeer
Read From: 5th June - 11th June 2021
Rating: 2/5 stars
Summary: The first book in this series saw the twelfth expedition into Area X, a foreboding entity that defies all explanation. Authority is based in the Southern Reach, the organisation overseeing Area X, where we see the new director ‘Control’ attempt to navigate the aftermath of expedition twelve.
I knew before going into Authority that it tends to be people’s least favourite of the Southern Reach trilogy - mainly because we’re no longer inside the mysteriously captivating Area X. Despite my love for Annihilation being for that very reason, I made sure to approach this with an open mind but I still sadly came away feeling very disappointed.
The main feeling I experienced when reading this novel was primarily boredom. Whilst the concept of Area X and the Southern Reach is undoubtedly interesting, Vandermeer has a very distinct writing style that benefits from a lot of concentration whilst reading. Because of this, I read slowly and attentively which ended up being my downfall, as the descriptions and the atmosphere started to become slightly repetitive (particularly during the middle section of the book). It felt like one of those instances where three paragraphs were used to explain something that could have been achieved in a single sentence.
Whilst Control was a complex character with many layers, I found it really difficult to connect with him. Considering that you are essentially in his head for a lot of the book to the point it almost reads as a monologue, connection to Control (or even intrigue at the very least) would have made the reading experience a lot more valuable for me. Instead, the pages and pages of his office drama and family history that had absolutely no correlation to the story left a lot to be desired. As for the other characters, I couldn’t help but feel that they were unnecessary. Whilst there are some interesting interactions, I feel as though their presence was again, much like many other aspects of this book, irrelevant to the progression of the plot and we’re only included for the build up of an uncertain atmosphere where everyone seems to be working against each other.
Although this second instalment to the Southern Reach trilogy missed the mark for myself personally, I do think that one day I will end up reading the final book, particularly as it returns to Area X. I’m very curious as to how this series ends, but I can’t say that I’m in any great rush to pick up Acceptance for now.